Tuesday, August 28, 2012

*Top 10 Football Movies rolls on as we reach Number 6: Varsity Blues. You know if you get mocked in Not Another Teen Movie, that you're a keeper.
*This was kind of the kick start to high school football movies. Although Friday Night Lights was written a long time ago, I think Billy Bob and the boys showed how high school football really is.
*The movie shows a lot of different aspects on high school and football..the partying, the pressure, will to win, a coach you don't like, the town behind you, etc.
*Good flick in my opinion.
*#SportsFourceSpirit moves on up to Spencer.
*The Tigers were WINLESS in 2010 and it looked like they were headed the same direction in 2011. But with some key wins and getting into the playoffs on that last Friday of the season, the Tigers changed the attitude around Spencer. Not only did they make it into the 3A playoffs, they also beat the top seed, Creston, and took Harlan down to the wire.
*Jim Tighes pronounced Tys team is all about PROCESS. They don't worry about the big goals, just getting better everyday.
*The Tigers have some work to do. Friday night Emmetsburg(number 2 in 1-A) rolled them. They also have a tough district, but it's hard to root against these guys.

*Keeping the countdown rolling, number 7 of the best football movie ever made: Any Given Sunday.
*This movie has an all-star lineup: Pachino, Diaz, Foxx, Quaid, LT, Jim Brown, AND LL Cool J. There is not another movie on the countdown that has a cast like this one.
*This movie is intense and doesn't beat around the bush. It shows you exactly what goes on in an NFL organization and takes no shortcuts.
*This movie could bump up a couple of spots, but it's not going to. Number 7 is a safe spot for the Sharks.
*#SportsFourceSpirit takes a look at LeMars Gehlen Catholic. The Jays move up a class and lose Trevor Bouma. That doesn't go well for a team that is trying to get back to the Dome. The Jays opened up in the CNOS Classic this past Saturday against Hinton and looked pretty good...in the first half. Hinton got on a roll and there was no looking back for the Blackhawks, beating Gehlen, 35-14.Gehlen not only lost Bouma from last year, but also their starting QB and two great players on the line. It's no doubt Tony Gunters team will have some work to do if they want to get back to the playoffs(which he told me was their goal.)

*Back to the blog(and the countdown)
*I apologize to my 3 readers of the blog that I haven't posted in awhile..I'm sure you were losing sleep.
*Greatest football movie countdown continues: Number 8: The Longest Yard
*The older generation sticks with the Burt Reynolds edition, younger folk prefer the Adam Sandler version..Take your pick, they're both good.
*It is a good storyline and a pretty good football flick. Although some would rank it higher in the countdown, I don't see it better than any movie in my top 7.
*Those wardens try and get you everytime, just ask Andy Dufresne.
*#SportsFourceSpirit has come and gone..ten teams outside the metro in ten days.
*Kingsley-Pierson is the next team on the list. They had a good season last year, however got knocked out of the playoffs first round.
*They think they can improve on that and take the next step in advancing to the playoffs. The Panthers will rely heavily on some senior leadership to get them there.

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

*Greetings.
*Here's a quick thought..why is it every time I say that to people when I'm out and about, someone always associates it to aliens by responding in an "Unearthly way" or hold up the peace sign? It always makes me chuckle. That is "my phrase" as a reporter and if being an alien makes me unique, so be it.
*Continuing the top 10 football movies of all-time countdown continues.
*Number 9 greatest football movie of all-time is: We Are Marshall
*This is a pretty solid film...nothing flashy, but it gets the job done. It tells the story of the tragedy of the Marshall football team's plane crashing and them making the decision to continue with the football program. With the likes of Nate Ruffin, Marshall went on to have some pretty good dang years as a football team.*Favorite quote: "We're not honoring them, Jack, we're disgracing them." I think this might tie into the Penn State situation that has occured/occuring. It will be interesting to see how it plays out in Happy Valley.
*The second of ten teams outside the metro on our Sports Fource coverage leading up to the season is: WOODBURY CENTRAL*The Wildcats return some key players from a team that won its first playoff game since 1980, when their coach Kelly Manker, was in pads for the blue and white.
*The 'Cats are a pretty confident bunch. But they will have to get through some excellent competition to reach where they want to go, the Dome.
*It will be fun for locals to watch the Paulsen twins over the next few years. With their size and for only being sophomores, they might go pretty far.
*Shout out to everyone I know from Moville, which it seems about half the town.

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

*Greetings
*Today is the countdown to the start of high school football in Northwest Iowa. To get ready, I will be spotlighting ten high school football teams around Sioux City and also covering the metro teams..(this corresponds with our Sports Fource coverage.) Not only that, I will be taking an inside look at all the local college teams getting ready for the upcoming season. And last but certainly not least, I will be counting down the top 10 football movies of all-time.
*Let's just start right there because that's probably why you are here.
*Number 10 greatest football movie of all-time is: Little Giants
*Myself being in my early 20's, this movie came out at a perfect time. Whether you liked Icebox or Spike, Brother Danny or Brother Kevin, there is no denying this great movie...and with a special appearance and inside coaching from John Madden, the movie had it all. There is no doubt Becky should of been a Cowboy..but she got the last laugh against Spike and those bratty Cowboys. #JuniorandBeckyForLife*Favorite quote: "Giants, Giants, HELP US GOD!!"
*The first of ten teams on our Sports Fource coverage leading up to the season is: HINTON*The Blackhawks are using last seasons 2-7 record as motivation for this year. With some more seniors on this years squad and the motto of "One game at a time," Hinton makes the move down from Class 1-A to A. Don't worry, it doesn't get easier. With West Lyon, Woodbury Central, and Lawton Bronson all in that class, it is going to be a tough schedule.*Coach Held really likes their line, saying it is one of the strongest points on the team. Luckily for Hinton, and the rest of the state, Trevor Bouma is graduated and gone. That means this years game against LeMars Gehlen at Elwood Olsen Stadium on August 25th should be much closer.
*Much more tomorrow.

Friday, August 10, 2012

*Greetings
*We are now two weeks away from MOST high school football teams starting in the state of Iowa.
*I like the idea of starting off with a bang. This means Valley vs. Dowling for central Iowa fans, East vs. Heelan in my neck of the woods. I, like many people, seeing these great, early football season matchups when we are used to seeing a powerhouse play a middle school team.
*Sioux City East coaches think that this might be one of their best team in years. Talking with head coach Bob Goodvin, he likes the idea of the new competition his team will get this year. Valley is the clear favorite in the district, but Goodvin says don't overlook the other teams.
*In talks of the new 4A districts, I'm on the fence. I like the balance it will bring, but I don't like parents having to travel three hours every other weekend to see their kids play. I guess if there is one good thing, it will spike the viewership of the news.(Wanting to see highlights because they didn't want to travel.)
*Iowa State will always be the underdog. They have no problem with that.
*The Olympics have been fun to watch and I think the USA Men's basketball team will crank it up three notches in pursuit of a gold medal. They are no "Dream Team."
*Speaking of, if you're looking for a good read, "Dream Team" by Jack McCallum is a fantastic book. It has all the inside info on the 1992 team, with Mac giving his opinion. He has the past and present quotes to back everything up. Truly a great author.
*I will start counting down the Top 10 best Football movies leading up to the season. Expect some quotes from Rudy, Boobie Miles, Gary Bertier, and Billy Bob.
*Have a nice weekend, and Go America!!

Friday, August 3, 2012

*Greetings
*We are two weeks away from high school football kicking off in the state of Iowa. 'Nuff said.
*Today is Husker fan day in Lincoln. Our very own Nick Filipowski made the trip to Lincoln. Martinez has a goal of completing 70 percent of his passes this season and says he hasn't felt this good in a very long time.
*I think Taylor will have a solid season IF Tim Beck understands his quarterback better than last season. Those INTs. Martinez threw at Wisconsin, Beck deserves more blame than Martinez.
*Martinez is a different character than Husker fans are usually used to seeing at the QB spot, a reason why I believe they are so easy to get on his case. This season is "Put up or shut up" time for Martinez...and his biggest fan Bo Pelini.
*I think it's a good thing that Bo has Martinez's back...gotta show him that you have confidence in him.
*Martinez is the best Nebraska has until a young man named Johnny Stanton steps on campus.
*Iowa State has one of the best linebacker cores in the country...they don't have a favorable schedule.
*How can you hate against Paul Rhoads? Gotta love what he's doing in Ames.
*I think the QB competition is a healthy one in Ames..it's only going to make the Clones better.
*Some Nebraska reporters were saying that Iowa would take any one of Nebraska's top 4 or 5 running backs. I would have to agree.
*The lack of running backs at Iowa might open the door for Michael Malloy to get plenty of reps as a true freshman. Hopefully he has a better career as a Hawkeye then the former last Heelan player to wear the Hawkeye uniform.
*I think 7 to 9 wins is reasonable for Iowa this fall..If they can go 5-0 before their bye, watch out.(and it's a reasonable goal.)
*If you're not on Twitter, that sucks. Saw a number yesterday that is mind blowing...just shy of 1 million Twitter accounts in the 2008 Olympics...over 300 million for these games...stunning.